U.S. patent application number 11/791396 was filed with the patent office on 2008-01-17 for dishwashing machine equipped with an ozone storage device.
This patent application is currently assigned to BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgerate GmbH. Invention is credited to Egbert Classen, Caroline Heiligenmann, Helmut Jerg.
Application Number | 20080011329 11/791396 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35561127 |
Filed Date | 2008-01-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080011329 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Classen; Egbert ; et
al. |
January 17, 2008 |
Dishwashing Machine Equipped With An Ozone Storage Device
Abstract
A dishwashing machine is provided with a washing compartment, an
ozone generator, and devices for washing items to be washed using a
washing solution, as well as with a storage device that is
connected to the washing compartment in an air-conducting manner.
The storage device serves, on the one hand, to store ozone and/or
hydroxyl radicals as they form or are produced and, on the other
hand, to release ozone and/or hydroxyl radicals during a partial
program step drying and/or a non-operating phase of the dishwashing
machine whereby effecting a deodorizing.
Inventors: |
Classen; Egbert; (Wertingen,
DE) ; Heiligenmann; Caroline; (Boeblingen, DE)
; Jerg; Helmut; (Giengen, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BSH HOME APPLIANCES CORPORATION;INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY DEPARTMENT
100 BOSCH BOULEVARD
NEW BERN
NC
28562
US
|
Assignee: |
BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgerate
GmbH
Carl-Wery-Strasse 34
Munich
DE
81739
|
Family ID: |
35561127 |
Appl. No.: |
11/791396 |
Filed: |
October 18, 2005 |
PCT Filed: |
October 18, 2005 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP05/55330 |
371 Date: |
May 23, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
134/25.2 ;
134/56D; 134/60 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 15/481 20130101;
A47L 15/424 20130101; A47L 15/4276 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
134/025.2 ;
134/056.00D; 134/060 |
International
Class: |
A47L 15/42 20060101
A47L015/42 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 9, 2004 |
DE |
10 2004 059 420.1 |
Jan 28, 2005 |
DE |
10 2005 004 091.8 |
Claims
1-12. (canceled)
13. A dishwashing machine comprising: a washing container; at least
one device for washing crockery using a washing solution; an ozone
generator; and a storage device communicated with the washing
container for the passage of air between the storage device and the
washing container, the storage device operating to collect and
store ozone and/or hydroxyl radicals.
14. The dishwashing machine according to claim 13, wherein the
storage device serves on the one hand to receive at least one of
ozone and hydroxyl radicals during at least one of its formation
and production, and on the other hand to discharge ozone and
hydroxyl radicals during at least one of a "Drying" partial
programme step and a non-operating phase of the dishwashing
machine.
15. The dishwashing machine according to claim 13, wherein the
ozone generator generates ozone for introduction into the washing
solution during a partial programme step of a washing programme in
which the items to be washed are acted upon by washing
solution.
16. The dishwashing machine according to claim 13 and further
comprising a fan activatable by a control system in order to
introduce at least one of the ozone and the hydroxyl radicals into
the storage device and to discharge at least one of the ozone and
the hydroxyl radicals from the storage device.
17. The dishwashing machine according to claim 16, wherein the fan
is activated by the control system during a non-operating phase,
wherein the activation occurs during a selected one of a periodic
milestone and as a reaction to an opening or a closing of a door
contact of a door of the dishwashing machine.
18. The dishwashing machine according to claim 13, wherein the
storage device is formed by a sorption column containing a
reversibly dehydratable material that is a selected one of a
zeolith and a non-zeolith material.
19. A method for operating a dishwashing machine with a washing
compartment, an ozone generator and devices for washing items to be
washed by means of washing solution, the method comprising:
applying a washing solution to items to be washed during a partial
programme step of a washing programme; and operating a fan during a
period that does not coincide with the period of the partial
programme step of a washing programme in which the items to be
washed are acted upon by washing solution, the fan promoting the
feed of at least one of ozone and hydroxyl radicals stored in a
storage device from the storage device into the washing compartment
of the dishwashing machine.
20. The method according to claim 19 and further comprising
introducing ozone into the washing solution in a partial programme
step in which the items to be washed are acted upon with washing
solution and operating the fan in order to feed gasified ozone
and/or hydroxyl radicals into the storage device that is connected
in an air-conducting manner to the washing compartment.
21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the step of
introducing ozone into the washing solution in a partial programme
step includes introducing the ozone into the washing solution using
an ozone generator.
22. The method according to claim 19, wherein the step of operating
a fan during a period that does not coincide with the period of the
partial programme step of a washing programme includes operating
the fan during a non-operating phase of the dishwashing
machine.
23. The method according to claim 19, wherein the step of operating
a fan during a period that does not coincide with the period of the
partial programme step of a washing programme includes switching on
the fan at periodic intervals.
24. The method according to claim 19, wherein the step of operating
a fan during a period that does not coincide with the period of the
partial programme step of a washing programme includes operating
the fan in response to an opening or closing of a door of the
dishwashing machine.
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a dishwashing machine with a
washing compartment, an ozone generator and devices for washing
items to be washed using a washing solution. The invention also
relates to a method for operating such a dishwashing machine.
[0002] As is well known conventional dishwashing machines have a
washing process whose programme sequence generally consists of at
least one "Prewash" partial programme step, a "Clean" partial
programme step, at least one "Intermediate Wash" partial programme
step, a "Clear Wash" partial programme step and a "Drying" partial
programme step. In order to increase the cleaning effect the
washing liquid (washing solution) is in this case heated before or
during a partial programme step. The washing liquid is normally
heated by means of electrical heating systems. Different drying
systems are known for drying the items to be washed in a
dishwashing machine, among other things the use of so-called
sorption drying devices.
[0003] A dishwashing machine with such a drying system is disclosed
in DE 20 16 831. In this system a compartment connected to the
interior of the washing compartment by a sealable opening is
mounted on a wall of the washing compartment for receiving a drying
means which is capable of absorbing moisture and discharging it
again on heating.
[0004] In dishwashing machines the problem generally arises that
when the door is opened there is an odour, unpleasant to the user,
resulting from prolonged non-operating time during which dirty
items to be washed are arranged in the dishwashing machine.
[0005] The object of this invention is therefore to provide a
dishwashing machine and a method for operating the same with which
it is possible to avoid such a situation.
[0006] This object is achieved by a dishwashing machine according
to the features of claim 1 and by a method according to the
features of claim 6. Advantageous designs are described in each of
the dependent claims.
[0007] In the dishwashing machine according to the invention, with
a washing compartment, an ozone generator and devices for washing
items to be washed by means of washing solution, the dishwashing
machine has a storage device connected in an air-conducting manner
to the washing compartment for ozone and/or hydroxyl radicals,
which device preferably serves on the one hand to receive ozone
and/or hydroxyl radicals during its production or formation, and on
the other hand to discharge ozone and/or hydroxyl radicals during a
"Drying" partial programme step and/or during a non-operating phase
of the dishwashing machine. The advantage of such a storage device
for receiving ozone and/or hydroxyl radicals is that ozone and/or
hydroxyl radicals can be fed into the washing compartment of the
dishwashing machine at certain specified times in order to prevent
the formation of an unpleasant odour, thereby improving the hygiene
of the interior of the washing compartment even during prolonged
non-operating phase.
[0008] In a suitable design an ozone generator is provided for this
purpose which generates ozone and introduces it into the washing
solution during a partial programme step of a washing programme in
which the crockery and cutlery are subjected to the action of
washing solution. For this purpose the ozone generator can be
arranged in the interior of the washing compartment, for example so
that it can the introduce ozone (O.sub.3) during a "Clean" and/or
"Clear Wash" partial programme step. The ozone dissolved in the
washing solution serves initially and advantageously to increase
the cleaning action of the partial programme step concerned.
Because of the permanent circulation of the washing solution some
of the ozone which can be supplied to the storage device and can be
stored in it gasifies so that it can then be discharged during a
"Drying" partial programme step and/or a non-operating phase of the
dishwashing machine. Since the discharge takes place at a time when
the dishwashing machine is not loaded with any washing solution,
the ozone serves to deodorise the washing compartment and/or the
items to be washed in it. The storage device is also able to store
hydroxyl radicals which have the same effect. Hydroxyl radicals are
formed in the dishwashing machine in the washing solution and can
also be fed to the storage device according to the invention.
[0009] According to a suitable design a fan is provided which can
be activated by a control system in order to introduce the ozone
and/or the hydroxyl radicals into the storage device and remove the
ozone and/or the hydroxyl radicals from the storage device.
[0010] According to a further design the fan can be activated by
the control system during the non-operating phase, the activation
taking place periodically or as a reaction to the opening or
closing of a door contact of a door of the dishwashing machine.
This ensures that the washing compartment and/or the items to be
washed are deodorised even during a prolonged non-operating phase
when the ozone and/or the hydroxyl radicals stored in the storage
device are fed into the washing compartment by operating the
fan.
[0011] According to a further design the storage device is formed
by a sorption column containing reversibly dehydratable material.
Zeolith in particular may be used as reversibly dehydratable
material. Dishwashing machines with such a sorption column are
known in principle from the state of the art and are used for
drying the cutlery and crockery during the "Drying" partial
programme step. In order to effect deodorisation of the washing
compartment and/or of the items to be washed, only an ozone
generator need therefore be provided in such a dishwashing machine
for the sorption drying device already present in order initially
to introduce the ozone into the washing solution and then to feed
the proportion of the ozone gasified during circulation into the
storage device and to store it there.
[0012] The particular advantage of the invention consists in the
fact that only a fan need be operated for deodorising the washing
compartment and/or the items to be washed during a non-operating
phase, i.e. at times when the dishwashing machine itself is out of
operation, which fan is operated for short times and/or
periodically. The advantage of this over operating an ozone
generator during such a non-operating phase is that only a small
quantity of energy is consumed during this non-operating phase.
[0013] In the method according to the invention for operating a
dishwashing machine with a washing compartment, an ozone generator
and devices for washing items to be washed by means of washing
solution, a fan is operated during a period outside a partial
programme step of a washing programme in which the items to be
washed are acted upon with washing solution, in order to feed ozone
and/or hydroxyl radicals stored in a storage device into the
washing compartment of the dishwashing machine. The ozone and/or
hydroxyl radicals present in the storage device are consequently
discharged from it when the fan is put into operation. As described
above, a reversibly dehydratable material, e.g. zeolith, is
preferably used here as the storage device, which material is able
to absorb moisture with the formation of condensation heat and
discharge the moisture stored in it again during heating.
Independently of these properties, the reversibly dehydratable
material is capable of storing ozone and/or hydroxyl radicals
intermediately and discharging it/them by generating an air flow so
that it/them can be fed into the washing compartment or onto the
items to be washed for deodorisation.
[0014] According to an advantageous variant of the method according
to the invention ozone is introduced into the washing solution in a
partial programme step in which the items to be washed are acted
upon by washing solution, and the fan is operated in order to feed
ozone gasified and/or hydroxyl radicals formed during this partial
programme step into the storage device connected in an
air-conducting manner to the washing compartment.
[0015] The ozone is introduced into the washing solution according
to a further advantageous variant using an ozone generator.
[0016] According to a further preferred design of the method
according to the invention the fan is operated during a
non-operating phase of the dishwashing machine in order to
introduce the ozone and/or the hydroxyl radicals into the washing
compartment to avoid a fermenting, musty odour. A non-operating
phase is understood to mean a condition of rest of the dishwashing
machine. Alternatively it would also be conceivable to feed the
ozone and/or hydroxyl radicals stored intermediately in the storage
device into the washing compartment of the dishwashing machine even
during the "Drying" partial programme step.
[0017] It is also advantageous to operate the fan at periodical
intervals to achieve the desired deodorisation. The periodic
operation of the fan, preferably for a short time only, also
ensures low energy consumption of the dishwashing machine.
[0018] It is also preferably for the fan to be operated as a
reaction of the opening or closing of a door of the dishwashing
machine. It must be assumed, for example, that new, dirty items to
be washed have been introduced into the washing compartment after
the dishwashing machine is opened and closed. The fan can be put
into operation with a predetermined time offset in order to
neutralise the odours deriving from the newly added dirty items to
be washed.
[0019] The invention is explained in further detail below by way of
the exemplary embodiment of a dishwashing machine according to the
invention shown in the drawing.
[0020] The single FIGURE shows in a diagrammatic representation a
dishwashing machine 1 according to the invention, with a washing
compartment 2 in which crockery baskets 3, 4 are arranged for the
introduction of items to be washed, not shown. The dishwashing
machine according to the invention is equipped with a sorption
drying device 14 that is known in principle from the state of the
art. For this purpose dishwashing machine 1 has a sorption column
10 connected in an air-conducting manner to washing compartment 2
and containing reversibly dehydratable material 11, e.g. zeolith,
wherein sorption column 10, as will be explained in more detail
below, is used on the one hand for drying and on the other hand for
heating air that is fed through.
[0021] Washing compartment 2 has an outlet 5, arranged in the
exemplary embodiment described in its upper region, with a pipe 6
to sorption column 10 and an inlet 8 arranged in the exemplary
embodiment described in its lower region, with a pipe 7 from
sorption column 10. In pipe 6 to sorption column 10 is arranged a
fan 9 which feeds air from washing compartment 2 to sorption column
10. In the closed air system contaminated an exchange of
contaminated air from the atmosphere is totally excluded, thereby
preventing recontamination of the items processed.
[0022] A heating element 12, which is electric in the exemplary
embodiment shown, is arranged in sorption column 10 of desorption
of the reversibly dehydratable material. The operation of such a
sorption drying device 14 is known in principle from the state of
the art, e.g. DE 20 16 831 or DE 103 53 774.09 and/or DE 103 53
775.9, so that a more detailed statement is dispensed with at this
point with reference to the disclosures therein. The content of
applications DE 103 53 774.0 and/or DE 103 53 775.9 of the
applicant is also incorporated in this application, if
appropriate.
[0023] According to the invention an ozone generator 13 is also
provided in washing compartment 2, which generator can in principle
be arranged at any point in the washing compartment. Ozone
generator 13 is operated with circulating washing solution during a
partial programme step so that it discharges ozone produced by it
into the washing solution to increase its cleaning action. Some of
the ozone gasifies due to circulation of the washing solution
through devices not shown in detail for washing the items to be
washed. Fan 9 is therefore operated during circulation of the
washing solution mixed with ozone so that this gasified ozone and
hydroxyl radicals formed in the washing solution are conducted
through outlet 5 and pipe 6 in the direction of sorption column 10.
Sorption column 10 containing reversibly dehydratable material 11
serves as an intermediate storage device for the ozone and/or the
hydroxyl radicals.
[0024] Since the unpleasant, fermenting and musty odours are not
formed immediately after the end of the washing programme, but due
to dirty items to be washed introduced into washing compartment 2,
fan 9 is operated in a time-offset manner, e.g. as a reaction to
the opening and closing of the door (not shown) of dishwashing
machine 1. Here it is sufficient for fan 9 to be operated only for
a short time in order to feed only a proportion of the ozone and/or
hydroxyl radicals stored in sorption column 10 via pipe 7 and inlet
8 into washing compartment 2.
[0025] In another variant fan 9 could be operated at periodic
intervals independently of the times of the opening and closing of
the door of the dishwashing machine.
[0026] In a further variant it is also conceivable to feed some of
the ozone and/or hydroxyl radicals stored in sorption column 10
into the washing compartment during the "Drying" partial programme
step in order to provide deodorisation even at this point and hence
improve hygiene in the washing compartment and/or items to be
washed.
[0027] Contrary to the variant described and shown in the FIGURE,
it is also possible, in a further variant, to operate the sorption
column serving as the storage device, independently of the function
of the latter, for accelerating the drying process during a
"Drying" partial programme step. In this variant the provision of
heating element 12 in or near sorption column 10 would be
unnecessary.
[0028] Another suitable storage device for the intermediate storage
of ozone and/r hydroxyl radicals is also conceivable.
[0029] With this invention a dishwashing machine is provided with
which it is possible to keep the interior of the washing
compartment hygiene and/or store the items to be washed
hygienically even during a prolonged non-operating phase, since the
ozone discharged into the interior of the washing compartment
disinfects the air. Because of the low doses the ozone cannot be
identified by a user.
LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS
[0030] 1 Dishwashing machine [0031] 2 Washing compartment [0032] 3
Crockery basket [0033] 4 Crockery basket [0034] 5 Outlet [0035] 6
Pipe [0036] 7 Pipe [0037] 8 Inlet [0038] 9 Fan [0039] 10 Sorption
column [0040] 11 Reversibly dehydratable material [0041] 12 Heating
element [0042] 13 Ozone generator [0043] 14 Sorption drying device
[0044] A, B, C Air path
* * * * *